Absence of radio communication led to the Netherlands' failed tactics at European Championships

Aug 06 2018 06:08 am CET

European Championships Glasgow 2018

The Netherlands women's team was dominant during the road race of the European Championships but the absence of team radios diminished its possibilities. Marianne Vos took the second place on the final podium.

The tactical plan of the Dutch team didn't turn out as expected and at times was even confusing for the spectators. With eight kilometres to go, Anna van der Breggen attacked from the front group, but at the same time, the peloton was being pulled by her teammates Ellen van Dijk and Marianne Vos.

The speed set by the Dutch riders reeled in van der Breggen with less than two kilometres to go, sentencing the race to a final sprint that was won with ease by Marta Bastianelli (Italy). It was incomprehensible that three of the Netherlands riders were pulling the peloton while van der Breggen was in front, but the team puts the blame on the absence of team radios.

"There was no communication in this competition, we didn't know anything at all," said van der Breggen at the end of the race to Dutch broadcaster NOS. "I was confident after my attack but without communication, my teammates didn't know that, neither from the team car or from anywhere else.

"I think we did a really good job, but we came here to win."

Vos shares the opinions of her teammate. "In retrospect, you think of moments when you could have done things differently," she commented. "If the Netherlands was fighting for the title, silver is not something that you can get euphoric about."